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3.86 AVERAGE
3.86 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
I’ve been reading more anthologies lately, and this is definitely one of the best ones so far. These stories were intentionally cut off to allow the reader to decide how the stories end, without sacrificing character development or exposition. I liked that imaginative aspect, and I actually think it helped fill in the worlds and reveal the personalities of the characters.
Most of the pieces were short stories, but there was also a play, and graphic novel included. I liked those, but I found them a bit confusing at first because of format.
The thing everyone's talking about with this book is its diversity, and I was absolutely blown away. There were so many different issues touched on, from immigration to systematic oppression to the social pressure for LGBT individuals to “conform,” and so many backgrounds and perspectives shown. My one small quibble is that there weren’t any stories with Indian characters. I’m always looking for that representation, especially in anthologies, and I was a bit disappointed to not find it here.
On another note, my favorite stories:
Meet Cute by Malinda Lo. Gender and race-bent cosplay, a wlw romance, and soooo much cuteness? YES!
Super Human by Nicola Yoon. An extremely moving story about how not even black superheroes are safe from police brutality, and what it takes to believe in humanity. This story was such a powerful way to end the anthology, and I loved it.
Other favorites: Why I Learned to Cook by Sara Farizan; Catch, Pull, Drive by Schuyler Bailar; One Voice by Melissa de la Cruz.
Side note: This anthology was edited by Lamar Giles, co founder of We Need Diverse Books. Theirs is an important cause, dedicated to promoting diversity in YA, and I wholeheartedly support it.
Most of the pieces were short stories, but there was also a play, and graphic novel included. I liked those, but I found them a bit confusing at first because of format.
The thing everyone's talking about with this book is its diversity, and I was absolutely blown away. There were so many different issues touched on, from immigration to systematic oppression to the social pressure for LGBT individuals to “conform,” and so many backgrounds and perspectives shown. My one small quibble is that there weren’t any stories with Indian characters. I’m always looking for that representation, especially in anthologies, and I was a bit disappointed to not find it here.
On another note, my favorite stories:
Meet Cute by Malinda Lo. Gender and race-bent cosplay, a wlw romance, and soooo much cuteness? YES!
Super Human by Nicola Yoon. An extremely moving story about how not even black superheroes are safe from police brutality, and what it takes to believe in humanity. This story was such a powerful way to end the anthology, and I loved it.
Other favorites: Why I Learned to Cook by Sara Farizan; Catch, Pull, Drive by Schuyler Bailar; One Voice by Melissa de la Cruz.
Side note: This anthology was edited by Lamar Giles, co founder of We Need Diverse Books. Theirs is an important cause, dedicated to promoting diversity in YA, and I wholeheartedly support it.
adventurous
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I like anthologies because it's a quick exposure to many different types of stories, writing styles, and authors. This truly is a really diverse collection. I liked that this anthology included a play, a graphic novel, and many different types of writing.
Here's my rating of each story as it appears in the book:
Here's my rating of each story as it appears in the book:
- Eraser Tattoo, Jason Reynolds, 3.75/5
- Cute story about a young African American couple and sweet storytelling
- Meet Cute, Malinda Lo, 1.75/5
- I hope you're hungry for nothing. Queer meet cute at comic con, but there's no plot or character development. They're lost in a building the whole time.
- Don't Pass Me By, Eric Gansworth, 4.5/5
- I liked the writing style here a lot. You learn more about the micro racism and daily erasure of Indigenous people, and the pressure Indigenous kids feel to abandon their culture to assimilate or pose as white.
- Be Cool for Once, Aminah Mae Safi, 2.25/5
- It had sooo much potential and a great set up, but the characters are weird. FMC is attending her favorite band's concert and hides backstage when she meets her crush? Just ugh.
- Tags, Walter Dean Myers, 4/5
- A play about the African American men gunned down (by police, gang violence, accidents, or otherwise) in the afterlife working to make sure they're not forgotten
- Why I learned to Cook, Sara Farizan, 4/5
- Bisexual Persian girl introduces her gf to her grandmother. Great insight into Persian culture, food, and the importance of food.
- A Stranger at the Bochinche, DNF
- Idk. Just couldn't get into it so I skipped it.
- A Boy's Duty, Sharon G. Flake, 1/5
- Literally nothing happens. Boy feels guilt for leaving his family/home behind and making a living as a thief, but then continues to steal from the one person helping him? Literally what?
- One Voice: A Something In-Between Story, Melissa de la Cruz, 4/5
- Exploring what it feels like to be on the receiving end of micro and macro aggressions and targeted discrimination against minorities on college campuses, and the lack of administrative support.
- Paladin/Samurai, Gene Luen Yang, 4/5
- Graphic novel! Really fun quick story. Great intro to Yang's graphic novel writing/design and I'm interested in seeing more from him.
- Kodama's Ramen Shop, Ellen Oh, 4.25/5
- Addresses generational and racial tensions amongst Korean and Japanese people. Great storytelling and I'd love to see an expanded novel version of this.
- Catch, Pull, Drive, Schuyler Bailar, 3.75/5
- Learn about the thought processes and anxieties that trans athletes have, and the aggression with which strangers interact with them.
- Super Human, Nicola Yoon, 5/5
- By far my favorite. What would you tell Superman ("X") if he decided to change his mind and wanted to destroy humanity instead of save it? What if he was Black? What if others started to call him alien and erase his humanity? This story is an absolute gem.
I did not care for most of the stories in this anthology, though appreciated the diversity in them. I did, however very much enjoy two stories the most: the “Kodama’s Ramen Shop” Ellen Oh and “Catch, Pull, Drive” by Schuyler Bailar. Nicola Yoon’s “Super Human” was also enjoyable as well.
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
challenging
A couple of gems, but most didn’t do much for me.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia, Racism, Transphobia
Minor: Police brutality
The additional story from Nicola Yoon was absolute favourite.
Eraser tattoo by Jason Reynolds- 2 stars
Meet cute by Malinda Lo- 2 stars
Don't pass me by by Eric Gansworth- 3 stars
Be cool for once by Aminah Mae Safi- 3 stars
Tags by Walter Dean Myers- 3 stars
Why I learned to cook by Sara Farizan- 4 stars
A stranger at the bochinche by Daniel Jose Older- 3 stars
A boy's duty by Sharon G. Flake- 4 stars
One voice by Melissa De La Cruz- 4 stars
Paladin/Samurai by Gene Luen Yang- 2 stars
Catch, pull, drive by Schuyler Bailer- 2 stars
Super human by Nicola Yoon- 4 stars
Meet cute by Malinda Lo- 2 stars
Don't pass me by by Eric Gansworth- 3 stars
Be cool for once by Aminah Mae Safi- 3 stars
Tags by Walter Dean Myers- 3 stars
Why I learned to cook by Sara Farizan- 4 stars
A stranger at the bochinche by Daniel Jose Older- 3 stars
A boy's duty by Sharon G. Flake- 4 stars
One voice by Melissa De La Cruz- 4 stars
Paladin/Samurai by Gene Luen Yang- 2 stars
Catch, pull, drive by Schuyler Bailer- 2 stars
Super human by Nicola Yoon- 4 stars
challenging
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes